Why is the demand for sunflower oil increasing in Tanzania?
Widespread adoption of improved seed is one important driver of increased production of sunflower oil in Tanzania, already one of the largest producers of the crop in Africa. And with sunflower processors investing in more than 50,000 metric tons of processing capacity, demand for sunflower from farmers is increasing. Setting up for change at scale
How much sunflower oil does Tanzania produce?
Speaking to The Citizen, the chairman of the Tanzania Sunflower Oil Processors Association (Tasuba), Mr Ringo Iringo, said sunflower seeds demand in Tanzania is 5,800 tonnes, while the country produces only 1,340 tonnes. About 1.7 million tonnes of seeds are required to manufacture 700,000 tonnes of cooking oil.
Why is sunflower oil important in Tanzania?
One reason for encouraging the greater production and processing of sunflower oil in Tanzania is thus its potential for import substitution, which could generate income and jobs at home and have a beneficial impact on foreign- exchange outflows. Also it is healthier than other types of oil, for example palm oil and groundnut oil.
How many sunflower seeds are produced in Tanzania?
According to him, Tanzania has 773 cooking oil factories requiring 1.7 million tonnes of sunflower seeds a year, worth Sh1.1450 trillion in total, at Sh850 per kilogramme. But, as only 352,908 tonnes worth Sh299 billion are produced locally, farmers lose Sh1.363 trillion in benefits from supplying to small, middle and large scale processing firms.
